How to Type the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word offers multiple efficient methods to insert the degree symbol (°), Unicode U+00B0, making it easy to add temperature readings, angles, or geographic coordinates to your documents. Whether you're using Word 2021, 2025, or Microsoft 365, these methods work seamlessly across Windows and Mac versions.

The degree symbol is essential for professional documents, especially when writing about temperatures (25°C), angles (90°), or geographic coordinates. This comprehensive guide covers four proven methods, from the fastest keyboard shortcut to automated text replacement.

Pro Tip: The Alt + 0176 shortcut works in any Windows application, not just Word. However, it requires a numeric keypad. For laptops without a numpad, enable Num Lock or use the on-screen keyboard.

Bonus Feature: When using the Insert Symbol dialog, Word automatically adds frequently used symbols to the "Recently Used Symbols" section for quick access next time.

Customization Tip: You can set up case-sensitive AutoCorrect options. For example, configure "oF" to automatically convert to "°F" for recipes, or "oC" to "°C" for temperature readings.

If you're using Word on Mac, the keyboard shortcuts differ from Windows. Use the Insert Symbol method instead, or refer to our Mac-specific guide for the Option + Shift + 8 shortcut.

For laptops without a numeric keypad, open the Character Map application (search for it in the Start menu), locate the degree symbol, copy it, and paste it into your Word document.

When using the Word mobile app on iOS or Android, use the long-press gesture on the 0 key—this reveals the degree symbol popup menu, just like on native mobile keyboards.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest for Windows)

1. Place your cursor after the number where you want the degree symbol (e.g., after "25").
2. Hold down the Alt key and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row numbers).
3. Release the Alt key—the degree symbol (°) appears immediately.

Method 2: Insert Symbol Dialog (Universal Method)

1. Navigate to the Insert tab in the ribbon menu.
2. Click on Symbol > More Symbols.
3. In the Symbol dialog box, ensure the Font dropdown shows "(normal text)".
4. Select Latin-1 Supplement from the Subset dropdown.
5. Scroll down to find the degree symbol (°), click on it, then click Insert, and finally Close.

Method 3: AutoCorrect Setup (For Frequent Use)

1. Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.
2. In the AutoCorrect dialog, under the "Replace" field, enter a shortcut like (deg).
3. In the "With" field, insert the degree symbol (°) using Method 2 above.
4. Click Add, then OK to save.
5. Now, whenever you type "(deg)" followed by a space, Word automatically replaces it with the degree symbol.

Method 4: Equation Editor (For Math and Science)

1. Click Insert > Equation (or press Alt+=).
2. Type your expression (e.g., "25"), then add the degree symbol from the Symbols group.
3. Alternatively, type \circ and press Space—Word automatically superscripts it as 25°.
4. Press Esc to exit the Equation Editor.

Troubleshooting Common Issues